Protesting cigarette ads

Protesting cigarette ads

From Pikiran Rakyat

It is really ironical that while the government has issued a
warning about the dangers of smoking, billboards advertising
tobacco products proudly stand erect in many major cities across
the country.

The relevant authorities should be clear about whether or not
there is a limitation on the size of these billboards, especially
when they are put so close to schools and houses of worship.

The size of an advertisement placed on a bridge should also be
taken into account, so that it does not cover an entire side of a
bridge. Otherwise, the bridge will not be esthetically nice to
look at and it could also promote the occurrence of crimes.

THEO ISKANDARSYAH

Bandung

;JP;WYS;
ANPAk..r..
Letter-contest
Frenchcontest at Carrefour
JP/4/let

French contest at Carrefour

In June, I bought a French music cassette at Carrefour Pasar
Festival as I read in their advertisement that with every
purchase, shoppers stood a chance at winning return airfare for
two to Paris and lunch with French Indonesia-born artist Anggun.

As mentioned in the ad, the draw would be held on July 10 and
they would announce the winner on July 17. But unfortunately,
until this letter was written, I have never seen an announcement.
I have asked the information counters at Carrefour Pasar Festival
and Ratu Plaza several times without any success; they seem
uncertain about this.

May I kindly ask the management of this hypermarket to please
release an announcement so that we know who the winner of the
contest is? Merci beaucoup!

POSMA DENIS S.

Bogor, West Java

;REPUBLIKA;LEI;
ANPAk..r..
Letter-brawls
Discharge students involved in brawls
JP/4/let

Discharge students
involved in brawls

From Republika

Before the public's disgust over brawls between high school
students could subside, a brawl erupted between students of
Trisakti University on July 24, in which students of the civil
engineering school fought against their rivals from the mineral
engineering school.

A trivial matter triggered the shameful brawl, which has
occurred several times before at this university. As a result,
those who were innocent had to bear the brunt of it.

The Trisakti tragedy and the 1998 riots, which claimed a lot
of lives, made this campus the pioneer of the students' movement
against the New Order regime, giving it the name Campus of
Reform. Unfortunately, its good reputation was tainted by the
brawl.

Trisakti's rector should severely punish the students who
behaved like hooligans so that other students will be discouraged
from similar brutal and anarchic action on the campus. Those
involved in the brawl must be suspended and brought to court to
account for their actions.

It would be better for the university to sacrifice a handful
of bad eggs rather than allowing them to tarnish its reputation.
The absence of severe punishment may lead to similar brawls.
Should this happen, Trisakti University will no longer deserve to
be called the Campus of Reform because its members are not
reform-minded.

HERDI DUDUNG

Bekasi, West Java

;KOMPAS;LEI;
ANPAk..r..
Letter-clinics
Illegal clinics
JP/4/let

Unlawful clinics
mushrooming

From Kompas

In his article titled Family-oriented service (The Jakarta
Post, July 11), Dr. H. Anies suggested that physicians who had
already completed their compulsory civic-mission assignment could
practice independently. This is a good idea in principle,
provided that the authorities issue a license for this purpose.
Unfortunately, the health ministry's weak control has led to the
springing up of illegal 24-hour general clinics run by physicians
who have not yet completed their compulsory civic-mission
assignment. Many of these clinics are even run by non-physicians.

These illegal clinics can be found in Jakarta, Tangerang,
Bandung, Surabaya, Medan, Palembang, Lampung and some other
cities. A high rate of profitability will spur clinic owners to
set up their branches in other places. To prevent any unpleasant
consequences, relevant authorities -- the police, the health
ministry and the regional administration -- should take action to
ensure that only clinics with proper licenses can operate.

Just like other professionals and their businesses, physicians
should first obtain a taxpayer code number before seeking a
practice license or setting up a clinic.

MULYADI

Tangerang, Banten

;KOMPAS;ARP;
ANPAk..r..
Letter-guard
Gunung Agung over guarded
JP/4/let

False accusation

From Kompas

While shopping at the Citraland branch of Gunung Agung
bookstore in West Jakarta with my sister on July 20, a security
guard said to me: "Sorry ma'am, you have just put something into
your handbag". I was startled and opened my bag before the man to
show that I had not dropped anything into it. He responded
arrogantly and impolitely: "Oh, so you've kept your cellular
phone then?," when in fact I was not carrying any cellular phone
at the time.

The accusation made by the shop guard made me feel embarrassed
in the presence of other visitors. No apology nor follow-up was
made by the guard or the shop's management. Is there no other
more refined and polite way of addressing a potential customer?
How does Gunung Agung select and train its personnel? I appeal to
the attention of the Gunung Agung management.

ERNI A YANTI

Jakarta

;RAKYAT MERDEKA;ARP;
ANPAk..r..
Letter-telko
Telkom going on a spending spree?
JP/4/let

Telkom going on
a spending spree?

From Rakyat Merdeka

Amid the various difficulties the population has to face as a
result of the protracted economic crisis, including the soaring
price of necessities, such as fuel, electricity and telephone
rates, state-owned Telecommunication Company (Telkom) announced
the distribution of big bonuses from its 2001 profits during its
shareholders general meeting.

The bonus for its president director is Rp 818 million, its
director is Rp 736 million, the chairman of the board is Rp 327
million and for each board member is Rp 290 million. The lowest
monthly salary for a Telkom employee is Rp 2.1 million.

For the general public, the news is shocking and painful. They
have received the bonuses from annual telephone rate increases,
not the achievements of Telkom's executives and personnel.

Despite the big profits it has reaped, Telkom keeps raising
its rates. With the approval of the House of Representatives
(DPR), it again increased telephone rates in March 2002 for the
classic reason of attracting investors. It apparently prefers to
offer large gains to investors at the expense of consumers, while
raising their personnel's pay and fringe benefit packages, which
are far bigger than those at other state-owned companies.

Strangely, the government and the DPR do not care at all. In
liberal countries, such as the U.S., companies are not allowed to
scoop maximum profits and distribute them as large bonuses
without any concern about their environment. They have social
obligations, and their governments make rules to limit marked
differences in society.

In Indonesia, which in theory is not a liberal state,
companies must have social concern. The board and executive
directors of Telkom must realize that its profit has come from
burdening consumers and there should not be any spending sprees.

The bonuses should have been given to the tens of thousands of
small-scale businesses as capital, children who are school
dropouts or to help relieve the state budget deficit. Meanwhile,
Telkom has also incurred huge debts and is paying installments
plus interest.

HM DIMYATI
Jakarta

;WARTA KOTA;FAL;
ANPAk..r..
Letter-racers
Get rid of street racers
JP/4/let

Get rid of street racers!

From Warta Kota

A brawl involving marine officers and street racers on Jl.
Gunung Sahari a couple of days ago should not have happened if
the street racers had been sensible.

Street racers know full well that public roads are not meant
for them to race one another, particularly at night because they
endanger other street users. If they want to be real gentlemen
and genuine racers they should go to Sentul racing track or any
other racing arena in the city.

They are not gentlemen, they are only losers. I would like to
appeal to the city's law enforcers and the public to take strict
measures to punish these chicken-hearted street racers.

I personally agree with the actions taken by the marine
officers against the irresponsible racers. If they are
unrepentant, just clobber them!

WIDODO

Jakarta